David F. Miller Center For Retailing Education and Research International Retailing Education and Training (IRET ) Development of Retail Industry in China
Brief History of Retailing in China after the Establishment of People s Republic of China Two important periods 1949-1978 Before Reforms: Planned Economy 1979-Present The Reforms: Socialist Market Economy with Chinese Characteristics page 2
Before Reforms (1949-1978) Set deadline of 1956 to transform private businesses into whole people enterprises In next 5 years, state expropriates all major industries Wholesalers and retailers were state-owned, and just storage facilities. Luxury department stores taken over by government and renamed, e.g., Number One Department Store Closing of ties between China and the West page 3
Before Reforms (1949-1978) FENPEI: Allocation System The State Planning Commission decided on general production goals for the factories in China. The factories would then be allocated raw materials and told to produce necessary products. After production, the goods would be shipped to the Ministry of Commerce Central Distribution Centers in in Tianjin, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and then distributed to 2 nd and 3 rd tier DCs at local level. Wholesalers and retailers were government-owned, and weren t really market players, just storage facilities page 4
Before Reforms (1949-1978) (Cont.) Distribution System Components Manufacturers/Importers Wholesalers Three Levels Retailers Controlled by Ministry of Commerce Operated by Special State-Owned Companies Prices were determined by the government not market. Philosophical belief that production is the goal, and distribution doesn t add much value page 5
Figure 1 China s Distribution System before Reforms (Tseng, Kwan, and Cheung, 1995) Manufacturers/ Importers 1 st level Wholesalers 2 nd Level Provincial 2 nd Level Provincial 3 rd Level District 3 rd Level District 3 rd Level District 3 rd Level District Retailer Retailer Retailer Retailer Retailer Retailer Retailer page 6
Before Reform (1949-1978) Under merchandise shortage, how much each kind of product a consumer could purchase each month was determined by the government. Food Coupons Cloth Coupons Vegetable Coupon Soap Coupon page 7
Before Reforms (1949-1978) (Cont.) Ownership of the Distribution System State-Owned Monopolize Distribution Channels Collective Less Important Private Negligible page 8
The Reforms (1979-present) Decentralization of the Distribution Authority Going through state-owned wholesale channels became non-mandatory. Management Reforms in Retail Outlets State-owned wholesalers and retailers were held accountable for their own profits. Lift of Restrictions on Retailing Prices could be negotiated. Foreign retailers could operate in China. Retail Ownership Become Diversified State-Ownership Decreased Private and Foreign Ownership Increased Consumers Have Greater Freedom Product shortages ended and food coupons were abandoned in the early 1990 s. page 9
Development of Retail Industry Starting Period (1980 s) Dominated by old department stores, traditional grocery stores, and specialized stores. Introduction Period (early 1990 s) There were fewer than 10 chain stores. Different formats emerge Growth Period (middle and late 1990 s) Different Formats grew: Hypermarkets, Supermarkets, Convenience Stores, and Specialty Stores Entries of foreign retailers Mature (the 21st century) Large scale chain stores across the countries. Market competition became intensive. page 10
Development of Retail Industry (Cont.) The Overall Trend of the Development From Single Stores to Chain Stores Form Regional to National From Eastern Coast to Western Inland From First and Second Tier Cities to Lower Tier Cities From Joint Venture to Wholly Owned for international retailers Market concentration increased and market competition became more intensive. page 11
Liberalization of Foreign Entries Forbidden Period (1978-1991) Rules for the Implementation of the Law of the People's Republic of China on Sino-Foreign Joint Venture Enterprises (1983) Rules for the Implementation of the Law of the People's Republic of China on Foreign-Funded Enterprises (1990) Foreign investments were forbidden in retailing, wholesaling, and other fields of business. page 12
Liberalization of Foreign Entries Step 1: 1992 Experimental Cities: Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin, Guangzhou, Qingdao, and Dalian 5 Special Economic Zones Shenzhen, Zhouhai, Shentou, Xiamen, and Hainan Each city could have 1-2 foreign retailers (Shanghai had 4). Other cities were forbidden to accept foreign retail investment. The retail stores had to be joint ventures. The Chinese partners had to have at least 51% ownership. They could not be wholesalers. No more than 30% of imported products. page 13
Liberalization of Foreign Entries (Cont.) Step 2: 1995 Foreign retailers could operate chain stores in Beijing. Foreign retailers could partially enter wholesale sector. They had to be joint ventures and 51% Chinese ownership was required. Licenses were for no more than 30 years. Step 3: 1999 Foreign retailers could enter the capitals of provinces and autonomous regions. The number and scope of the foreign retailers operating in China increased. Step 4: 2004 2001, China joined WTO Three years later, all restrictions on foreign retailers were removed. page 14
Let China sleep, for when she wakes, she will shake the world" -Napoleon Bonaparte Location Module page 15